Store layaway programs made a comeback last holiday season, with gift-buyers flocking back to installment payment plans. Now, Sears is expanding the concept by letting consumers put vacations on layaway, too.

When vacationers rent cars this summer for their adventures, they'll have to decide: Do they want the insurance the company is offering. It might be tempting to it pass up the extra fees, but whether or not you should is a something you should figure out long before you get to the counter.

Car rental company Avis Budget Group Inc (CAR) improved its offer for Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group (DTG).
Avis raised the cash portion of the offer to $40.75 a share, from $39.25, Avis said in a statement. The offer now stands at $40.75 in cash and 0.6543 shares of Avis Budget stock per share of Dollar Thrifty.

Hertz Global Holdings announced Monday plans to acquire rival Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group in a deal valued at $1.2 billion, as the world's largest airport car rental company aims to increase its presence among European vacationers.